2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Championship standings

Button secured the Drivers’ Championship in Brazil with a fifth-place finish; only two points now separate Vettel in second from Barrichello in third. Brawn GP claimed the Constructors’ Championship in Brazil as well, with Red Bull confirmed second. Third in the Constructors’ is still undecided between McLaren and Ferrari.

Previous race

Webber won in Brazil — his second win of the season — by 7.6 seconds from Kubica, with Hamilton third. Button came fifth from 14th on the grid, clinching the world title. A chaotic opening lap featured three separate accidents and a pit-lane fire when fuel spilled from Kovalainen’s car ignited off Räikkönen’s exhaust. Qualifying was the longest in Formula One history at two hours and 41 minutes, interrupted by a tropical storm. Barrichello took pole in the final minutes on a drying circuit.

Between-race developments

Glock remains unfit to race after cracking a vertebra in qualifying at Suzuka. Kobayashi continues in his seat for this race.

This is the final race for the Brawn GP, BMW Sauber, and Toyota teams. Nakajima and Fisichella also make their last Formula One starts. Rosberg drives his last race at Williams, with Robert Kubica confirmed at Renault for 2010 in place of Alonso. Räikkönen is also in his final race for Ferrari before his announced departure.

Entrants

As a new circuit, practice and qualifying are run in the late afternoon and early evening to simulate the day-to-night transition that the race will experience.

Circuit

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place at the Hermann Tilke-designed Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, Formula One’s first day-night event. The race starts at sunset — 17:00 local time, with sunset forecast at 17:43.

Tyre choices

Bridgestone brings the medium and soft compounds.

Practice

McLaren dominated the practice sessions, with Hamilton setting the early standard in FP1 and Kovalainen fastest in FP2 — two-tenths clear of Hamilton. Button and Hamilton exchanged fastest laps in FP1 and Button prevailed in FP3. Ferrari struggled all weekend, with Räikkönen at the back of the times and Fisichella less than impressed with the circuit’s underground pit exit. Kobayashi frequently out-paced Toyota teammate Trulli throughout the sessions.